29th Infantry Division begins mission in the Middle East
The Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division assumed command as U.S. Army Central’s intermediate division headquarters, Task Force Spartan, during a transfer of authority ceremonyDec. 19, 2016, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
“Today is a watershed day in U.S. Army Central. Today the paradigm of the mission command in this theater Army changes as we install the 29th Inf. Div. headquarters as Task Force Spartan,” said Lt. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, commander USARCENT.
The 29th Infantry Division assumes mission command for Task Force Spartan with more than 18,000 troops supporting Operation Spartan Shield and theater security cooperation in U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. More than 450 Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers from the 29th are postured and prepared to conduct contingency operations and command forces throughout the USARCENT area of operations.
Operation Spartan shield is a combined forces contingency operation designed to deter and react to possible threats within the region.
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P7B

Virginia National Guard meets challenges of busy 2016
The Virginia National Guard is a dual-status military force with both a state and federal mission, and it effectively balanced the demands of those missions through 2016 in one of the busiest years in recent memory.
“I am incredibly proud of the dedicated service and tremendous duty performance from our entire force in 2016,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “We also owe a special thanks to their families, loved ones and employers because we couldn’t perform our mission without their support.”
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P7k

Virginia National Guard supports winter storm response in Hampton Roads
Nearly 200 members of the Virginia National Guard assisted and were on standby for the state’s mulit-agency response to heavy snow Jan. 7-9, 2017, throughout the Hampton Roads area.
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P78

Virginia Guard personnel to support 58th Presidential Inauguration
Nearly 300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will join a force of approximately 7,500 National Guard personnel from 40 states and territories supporting the 58th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, D. C.
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P79

AG shares legislative priorities, update on Va. Guard with JLC
Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, updated members of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations on the Virginia Guard and discussed the Va. Guard’s legislative initiatives for the 2017 session of the Virginia General Assembly Jan. 12, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia.
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P7R

VDF serves as technical lead for ongoing cyber assessment mission
Cyber security experts from the Virginia Army Guard and Virginia Defense Force continued their weeklong vulnerability assessments Dec. 13-16, 2016, and for the first time a member of the VDF served as the technical lead for the mission.
Read more: http://go.usa.gov/x9P7n

Did You Know?
Jan. 19, 2017: Virginia National Guard Day at the General Assembly
Members of the Virginia Army National Guard, Virignia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force will display personnel and equipment outside the General Assembly Building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to demonstrate some of the Virginia Guard’s capabilities.
Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, will host a reception for members of the Virginia General Assembly from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

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